Saints sign DE Isaiah Foskey, wrap draft class deals

The Saints added Foskey with the No. 40 overall pick in April. The terms of this contract will be of interest to the players drafted immediately after Foskey, as this sector of the second round represents the largest unsigned contingent remaining.

Carolina authorizing three fully guaranteed years and a partial guarantee of Year 4 in No. 39 overall pick Jonathan Mingo‘s contract last month slowed negotiations for second-rounders. Second-round picks have made steady gains on the guarantee front in the years since the 2011 CBA reorganized rookie contracts.

Foskey represents the second major D-end draft investment the Saints have made since 2021, when they drafted Payton Turner in Round 1. Turner has not developed like the team hoped, and the Houston alum’s roster spot may not be a lock. It would still surprise if Turner were not on the team come September, but after being a healthy scratch at points last season, the third-year pass rusher’s stock has dropped. The Saints also let Marcus Davenport walk in free agency and have their top sack artist — Cam Jordan — going into his age-34 season.

A Notre Dame product, Foskey delivered strong production during his final two years with the storied program. He notched two 10-sack seasons in that span, totaling 20.5. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. still viewed Foskey as more of a third-round talent, slotting him 77th in this class. But the Saints disagreed and will hope the 6-foot-5 edge player can become a fixture as Jordan moves into his mid-30s.

The Saints centered their draft plan around the defensive line, taking Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee in Round 1. Here is New Orleans’ 2023 draft class.

Round 1, No. 29: Bryan Bresee, DT (Clemson)
Round 2, No. 40: Isaiah Foskey, DE (Notre Dame)
Round 3, No. 71: Kendre Miller, RB (TCU)
Round 4, No. 103: Nick Saldiveri, G (Old Dominion)
Round 4, No. 127: Jake Haener, QB (Fresno State)
Round 5, No. 146: Jordan Howden, S (Minnesota)
Round 6, No. 195: A.T. Perry, WR (Wake Forest)